Sevana

THE SEVANA STORY: Armed with an infectious wit, and charm, “Sev from Sav”, Anna Sharé “Sevana” Blake is one of the most proficient vocalists and overall artists of her time. A Singer, Songwriter, Actress, and Filmmaker, Sevana’s immense passion for creating is her trademark and is the guiding force behind her rise to burgeoning global fame. Her story begins where she derived her Sevana moniker; in the coastal town of Savannah-La- Mar in Westmoreland, Jamaica. Raised with four siblings by her single Mother, she attended the Unity Primary School, a recipient of the government-funded P.A.T.H (Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education) with dreams bigger than her reality. She may not have known then how much of a role music and art in general, would play in her life but she knew it was more than just entertainment; it was an escape and an outlet for her emotions. Journaling and writing too became an outlet that blossomed into poetry and then eventually songwriting. This was sparked by simply having music all around; her Mother, who had a penchant for genres like Jazz, would collect the CDs and rotate the songs every Sunday. Her favourites were Toni Braxton, Celine Dion, The Manhattans, Kenny Rogers, The Temptations and Sade. This gave way to Sevana’s exploration of more genres, spending JMD$15 at her Parish Library to use their computer to surf sites like YouTube, to discover more. Her adolescent years began at Manning's High School, where she entered the public eye at just 16, auditioning in a trio for the popular Digicel Rising Stars talent competition, which aired locally on television. Before then though her first year of high school saw her overcoming initial shyness to debut one of her original songs “Time Hard” to her peers, garnering their attention. Several years later, she formed part of a teenage trio known as “SLR”. Formed the morning of the audition circa 2008, her SLR journey culminated in a remarkable third-place finish in the nationally popular talent search competition, Digicel Rising Stars. Following the dissolution of SLR sometime later, a 16-year-old Sevana boldly moved to Kingston. odd jobs and couch surfing while steadfastly supporting her family. Despite the challenges, Sevana never looked back, immersing herself in the hustle of urban life. From working as a promotional ambassador, administrative assistant, call centre agent and social media manager, Sevana embraced every opportunity that came her way. Alongside her hustle in Kingston, she pursued admission to the Edna Manley School for the Visual and Performing Arts, a testament to her commitment to artistic excellence. Despite securing acceptance, financial constraints loomed large, presenting a daunting choice regarding student loans. For Sevana, the prospect of indebting herself was a profound consideration, especially given her upbringing which was devoid of financial stability. The weight of financial responsibility prompted introspection, questioning the feasibility of repayment amidst uncertainty. Faced with this dilemma, Sevana made a bold decision to forgo the opportunity. Instead, Sevana immersed herself in a myriad of experiences, working tirelessly to support herself. However, the demands of her job eventually took a toll on her mental well-being, culminating in a realisation of her struggles with depression. She combatted this by delving into

the vibrant Kingston music scene: attending live shows, open mic nights and jam sessions while simultaneously uploading song Covers to her YouTube and SoundCloud channels. This became the true start of her career as she began to steadily build a following and community. At age 23, Sevana's career took the ultimate turn as the Grammy-nominated Reggae artist Protoje discovered her captivating cover of Amy Winehouse's 'Back to Black' on Twitter, leading to her signing with his Independent In.Digg.Nation Label that same year. This partnership resulted in the release of her self-titled debut EP in 2016 and the sophomore EP 'Be Somebody' in 2020, marking milestones in her career. In 2022, driven by her creative instincts, Sevana established her label, Good Hz Music, signalling a new era of artistic freedom and self-expression. Her single release, “Lowe Mi,“ under this label, stands as a defining moment in her career, reflecting her meticulous attention to detail and passion for the creative process. Beyond music, Sevana's creative pursuits extended into film, where she collaborated on projects such as the mini TV series “Losing Patience“ (circa 2017) and worked alongside acclaimed director Yoram Savion on three short films in 2019, immersing herself in the intricacies of the film industry. 2022 came with another career-defining opportunity as Sevana received an unexpected email from casting director Karen Blake Chin, inviting her to audition for a role in a Bob Marley biopic. Despite facing emotional turmoil amidst media scrutiny, Sevana persevered, submitting self- tapes for the role of Rita Marley. Though she didn't secure the part, her talent captured the director's attention, leading to an invitation to audition for another role. Just five days later, Sevana received the offer to portray Judy Mowatt, marking a significant milestone in her burgeoning acting career as the One Love Movie continues to receive critical and cultural acclaim. 2024 sees Sevana taking her time to coordinate her releases and explore all forms of the creative industry in addition to her music career. She recently concluded her second performance at the Lost In Time Festival curated by Protoje - with her first being an appearance at its first staging in 2023. She also performed alongside fellow Jamaican artists Lila Ikè, Naomi Cowan and Jaz Elise in a collaborative performance called “The Rock and Groove Xperience” paying tribute to their 2019 Rock & Groove riddim release. More recently, she debuted the SXSW (South by Southwest) Festival in Austin, Texas in March 2024, taking on the Sounds of The Caribbean stage.

In 2025, she embarks on her London Tour in Summer on the heels of her newest release "Need Me," a song for loved ones everywhere! Sevana continues to give it all she has!